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Bush Senior and Bush Junior: An Administration Designed From the Same Christmas Card List?

George Walker Bush, son of former President George Herbert Walker Bush, is busy preparing his new administration. President-elect Bush, as a member of America's political families, like the Kennedys and Rockefellers, has a vast network of which to fill the nation's top leadership positions. President George H. W. Bush became President 12 years ago, and the faces chosen then for his Cabinet are now resurfacing.

George W. Bush is calling upon many of the very same people who made his father's administration so successful, to serve during his term. Most notably are the former president's cabinet and most senior officials. His son tapped into these experienced resources early in his presidential bid, and have since become the administration officials of choice for the post-Clinton presidency.

The Texas governor's own running mate, Dick Cheney, was Secretary of Defense during the Bush Administration, directing US operations during the Persian Gulf War. During Indecision 2000, it was the Bush Administration's Secretary of State, James A. Baker III, who was Bush's legal representation.

G. W. Bush's first Cabinet appointee is General Colin Powell. General Powell is nominated to be the US Secretary of State for Bush's Administration. Previously Powell was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as part of the elder Bush's administration, leading America to victory during the Persian Gulf War. The General rejected the idea of running for President because he feels he does not have the political drive that it takes, but accepts the honor of the Secretary of State appointment. American popular opinion sees Powell as one of the most respected men of our nation.

Although the Secretary of State is the only appointment Bush has formally announced, several other leaders of the new administration are expected to be announced shortly. Among those are the National Security Advisor and White House Chief of Staff.

Condoleezza Rice, former National Security Advisor to President Bush, is expected to return to that position under the new administration. Rice is an expert on Russia; In December, 1989, former President Bush introduced Rice to Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev in this manner: "This is Condoleezza Rice," he said. "She tells me everything I know about the Soviet Union." Salon.com writer Steve Kettmann found this to be the most flattering of introductions. (Salon.com 20 Mar.) This is quite possibly because former President Bush has been CIA Director during the Cold War, a position that required vast amounts of knowledge about the USSR.

Former Secretary of Transportation, also under former President Bush's administration, Andrew H. Card Jr., is the President-Elect's choice for White House Chief of Staff. History shows that administrative officials get re-appointed, if the incoming President has liked their performance in past administrations. For example, before Cheney served as Defense Secretary for Bush, he was in the public eye, serving in the executive branch during the Ford Administration as White House Chief of Staff. ( Eric Schmitt, (The New York Times 15 Dec.)

Along with using his father's rolodex, Bush also used his father's presidency as a learning experience. For example, one mistake many feel his father made as president was having one all-powerful chief of staff, like John H. Sununu, as the only aide funneling information to him. ( Alison Mitchell, (The New York Times 14 Dec.)

Bush is careful to balance the old and the new administrators in his policy team. For example, many of the Texans from the campaign are also expected to hold prominent positions. ( Mike Allen, (Washington Post 14 Dec.)

President-Elect Bush, used words once used by President Truman to describe General George C. Marshall, also a General that later became US Secretary of State, to explain his choice to bring Powell back from his father's administration into his. "He is a tower of strength and common sense. When you find someone like that you have to hold on to him." ( Alison Mitchell, (New York Times 16 Dec.)